Luton Airport reopens car park after two years, but prices rise 40% as part of upgrade
Rebuilt Terminal Car Park 2 opens with 1,900 spaces and a new covered drop-off zone, while parking rates climb and a broader public-transport push unfolds.
Luton Airport has reopened one of its main car parks two years after a blaze destroyed Terminal Car Park 2, but travellers will face higher prices. The rebuilt facility, which now provides 1,900 vehicle spaces, includes a new covered drop-off and pick-up zone. The length of time drivers can wait in this area has been extended to 10 minutes, yet the price has risen from £5 to £7 for the short-stay slot — a 40% increase.
The renewal forms part of the airport’s broader upgrade program and comes alongside plans to redirect passengers toward public transport. The current temporary drop-off area outside the terminal will be replaced by additional bus stands, and other refinements are being made across the airport’s pick-up and drop-off points. In a broader shift, Blue Badge holders can now park for 30 minutes free in Terminal Car Park 1, and Electric Vehicles (EVs) benefit from £1 for 30 minutes in Terminal Car Park 1. Free drop-off and pick-up is extended to two hours in the Long Stay car park, and there will be no drop-off facility in the Mid-Stay car park.
The airport frames these changes as part of a wider strategy supported by a £1.5 million Public Transport Investment Fund. Alberto Martin, chief executive of London Luton Airport, said the measures aim to improve connectivity and encourage more sustainable travel to and from the airport. “As part of our growth plans, we have set challenging targets on public transport use,” he said. “We have begun exploring opportunities for the £1.5 million Public Transport Investment Fund to be directed towards local bus services, improved rail connections, and infrastructure upgrades around the airport to encourage more sustainable travel and reduce reliance on private cars. By reopening our car park alongside this £1.5 million public transport fund, we’re supporting both the immediate needs of our passengers and the long-term goal of improving public transport links to and from London Luton Airport.”
The car park was completely demolished after the 2023 fire, which started accidentally from a diesel Range Rover that already showed light smoke as it entered the facility. The driver did not notice the issue until reaching the third floor, at which point flames erupted from the front of the vehicle, the investigation found. The blaze destroyed more than 1,300 vehicles and prompted the cancellation of all flights at the airport until the following day, with more than 100 firefighters involved in the response. No one was injured. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service noted the incident highlighted gaps in fire safety measures for multi-storey car parks and suggested that the presence of a sprinkler system might have changed the outcome in certain scenarios.
The reopening and the accompanying changes reflect a broader business and market trend in the UK aviation sector, where operators are balancing passenger convenience with cost controls and a push toward greener transport options. While parking prices rise to offset the cost and complexity of restoration and modernization, airports are increasingly framing parking and ground access as part of integrated mobility strategies that incentivize public transport use and reduce congestion around terminal facilities.
The incident at Luton underscores the financial and logistical stakes involved in large-scale airport infrastructure projects. The 2023 fire prompted a comprehensive rebuild and a re-evaluation of safety standards for high-capacity car parks, with regulators and airport operators alike emphasizing the importance of robust fire suppression measures and rapid response capabilities. As Luton reopens the door to thousands of daily travelers, industry observers will be watching how the tariff changes, service enhancements, and funding from the Public Transport Investment Fund influence passenger behavior and the airport’s ability to attract flights while meeting sustainability targets.
In total, the episode at Luton offers a case study in the interplay between infrastructure resilience, cost recovery, and the push to shift travelers toward public transportation networks. With the new car park in place and a suite of transit-friendly incentives, the airport is signaling a broader industry emphasis on integrating ground access with long-term environmental and mobility objectives, even as consumers face higher short-term costs for parking during peak travel periods.